MOCA's BIG FAMILY DAY - A BIG TIME SUCCESS

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY (AND DOWNTOWN LA) ADVENTURES

Elizabeth Morin of the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs speaks with a MOCA intern about a future in the arts.
Rania Pallad and her husband Willard Simms watch over The Museum's table.


The Museum of the San Fernando Valley was part of MOCA's Big Family Day, downtown Los Angeles today. The event is MOCA's biggest family celebration of the year. There were special gallery tour by our city's expert art kids, great hands on art activities and great bands. MOCA's student art internships are among the most popular youth arts programs in Western United States.

SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION FOR OUR CITY'S CHILDREN - all of Civilization is at stake!

THE MUSUEM SUPPORTS MOCA's FAMILY FUN DAY

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY (AND DOWNTOWN LA) ADVENTURES

Rania Pallad, Treasurer of The Museum, hands out markers and crayons to the MSFV's table at MOCA - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

The Museum's new signs let everyone in MOCA's plaza know that the San Fernando Valley is a super important part of the Los Angles Art Scene. Rania Pallad, Jerry Fecht and Willard Simms at our table.
Watching our Museum advisor, Fabrizio Flores in action today directing MOCA's Big Family Day was inspiring. Over a thousand people of all ages crowded the plaza of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), just across the street from Disney Hall.
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley gave away posters, suitable for coloring, of neat things to do in the Valley. They were a big hit. The first thing that kids colored in were the pumpkins representing the Farm Center at Pierce College.
Special thanks to the artist Joseph Saenz and member of the Board of The Museum, Elizabeth Morin for producing the posters. Thanks too to Rania Pallad and Willard Simms who "personed" The Museum's table for most of the afternoon.
The Grammy Museum had drums for kids to try out.
We were right next to the folks from the new Grammy Museum's Education Department. Since Kait and Mike both live in Studio City, we had the chance to invite them to The Museum's walking tour and the big 75th Anniversary of Republic Studios next September.

WHY VETERANS' INTERVIEWS ARE A PRIORITY FOR YOUR MUSEUM

2010 -- THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES --Northirdge100

Soldier of the 96th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, World War II - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.

I have seldom seen any group of individuals working harder than the Board of Directors and Advisers to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Just about the time when it looks like we can coast for awhile, something new and often urgent arises. Securing the histories of our World War II and Korean War veterans takes real precedence in The Museum's efforts. Yesterday's interview with 91 year old Paul Cohen, who served in the United States Army in the Philippines and in the battle for Okinawa, is a significant example.

Some of the other things the Museum has going:

On Saturday May 1st, The Museum presents to the LA Heritage Alliance (meeting at the Pierce College Farm Center) our plans for a Greater Los Angeles Fall Cleaning Garage Sale for dozens of LA historical groups. It should be one of the biggest events of the year and raise money for historical organizations all over our vast city.

On Sunday May2nd, your Museum will be part of the BIG FAMILY DAY at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) downtown LA. (It's a giant family centered day with the arts at the MOCA museum info: 1 (213) 621-1745. We'll have coloring maps of the San Fernando Valley for kids to enjoy..... and, learn more about our fabulous Valley.

And, on Saturday May 8th, we'll be taking Valley residents and visitors on a special guided walking tour of historic Van Nuys.

BUT.................. an Interview with VALLEY HERO, PAUL COHEN went to the top of our list of things to accomplish.

In The Museum's last Board meeting, we agreed to partner with the young and accomplished blogger and photographer, Andy Hurvitz to seek support for a joint effort to acquire the photos and stories of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Jewish American War Veterans. In the process, The Museum is developing an interview process applicable to interviewing of all veterans and other Valley notables. The interview with Paul Cohen gave us the opportunity to try out our questioning techniques, photography skills and because our recording device failed, our ability to record Paul's history by hand.

WANT TO HELP? Call Jerry Fecht (fate) at 1 (818) 347-9665 and ask about one of the above projects, or our upcoming work on the 75th Anniversary of Republic Studios, our efforts to make the 100th Anniversary of Northridge (Northridge100) a grand success, our Speakers in Historic Places talks, the preservation and appropriate use of the historic Idle Hour Cafe in the NoHo, securing the history of Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Studio City and many other efforts.